NOC to partner military ahead of 2016 Olympics

[SunNews]

By ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE, Kaduna

Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) is set to collaborate with the Nigerian Army and other military services towards making an impressionable performance at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The NOC President, Alhaji Sani Ndanusa, disclosed this while speaking during the closing ceremony of the maiden edition of the Nigerian Army Combat Sports, which ended at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna at the weekend.

Ndanusa commended the army for organising the tournament, saying Nigerian military services had many talented athletes particularly in the combat sports that NOC could tap into to have a good outing at the coming international competitions. According to him, "most of the Nigerian medallists at international competitions are from the military, about 50 percent of Nigerian athletes in London 2012 Games were from the military. NOC visited the Chief of Army Staff and other service chiefs and met with the technical directors of the services for roadmap towards the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland and the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. "This is all important tournament, I am impressed by the organisation and the performance, the technical committee of the NOC is here to take notes and pick talented athletes for the coming international competitions".

The tournament in four sports namely boxing, taekwondo, wrestling and judo was won by 1 Division Kaduna with 17 gold, 11 silver and 15 bronze medals, Army Headquarters Garrison Abuja came second with 14 gold, 10 silver and 21 bronze medals, while 82 Division Enugu was third with 10 gold 8 silver and 25 bronze medals. The 81 Division Lagos, who were mourning their wrestler who died in the ring at the tournament came fourth with 9 gold, 12 silver and 15 bronze medals, 2 Division Ibadan won 7 gold, 8 silver and 23 bronze medals to place fifth, while 3 Division Jos won 6 gold, 12 silver and 27 bronze medals.

Three other trophies for best male boxing team, best male judo team and best male wrestling team were also won by 1 Division, just as Army Headquarters Garrison emerged best in male taekwondo team, female boxing team and female wrestling team, while 82 Division Enugu was best in female taekwondo and judo teams. The Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada commended the athletes for avoiding doping, while tasking them to work harder to reclaim the glory of the Nigerian Army and make their country proud.

Via: Sun News Online